BESSARION, Johannes, Cardinal (d.1472) - photo 1
BESSARION, Johannes, Cardinal (d.1472) - photo 2

BESSARION, Johannes, Cardinal (d.1472)

Starting price
£ 4 000
Auction dateClassic
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 870710
Lot 114 | BESSARION, Johannes, Cardinal (d.1472)
BESSARION, Johannes, Cardinal (d.1472)

In calumniatorem Platonis Venice: Aldus, 1516.

First augmented Aldine edition of Bessarion’s celebrated defence of Platonism. Bessarion was the leading proponent of Platonism in the major European Renaissance courts, and his polemic against George Trebizond's anti-Platonic attack enabled the publication of Plato's works. The work focuses on Plato as a mathematician, adducing Archimedes in support of the defence. The first part of In calumniatorem Platonis is based on the 1503 edition, while the second part, printed here for the first time, includes Bessarion’s own translation of Aristotle’s Metaphysics. Adams B-834; Graesse I, 353; Panzer VIII, 434; Renouard 77/6.



2 parts in one volume, folio (319 x 215mm). Aldine device on both titles and verso of final blank (small repairs to margin of first title and repair to blank corner of final leaf, two small repairs to final leaf of first part affecting a few letters on recto). Contemporary limp vellum, yapp edges, remains of ties (somewhat soiled, binding splitting from textblock). Provenance: early manuscript numeral to foot of title – early manuscript shelf mark and later shelf label to inside upper cover.





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No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Place of origin:Italy, Europe
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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10.12.2022 – 13.12.2022
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